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Monday, December 31, 2012

Hey all! Happy New Year's Eve! Hope everyone had a fantastic year and got lots of polish. I know I did! This is my first end of year post, and I'm kinda excited! I really got in to polish collecting & completely obsessed with nail care and (since August) my little blog! I have had a lot of fun getting to know other bloggers and drooling over lots and lots of gorgeous swatches! I can't wait to do it all again next year!

For my Wrap Up, I picked my top 10 polishes released this year, as well as, best collection, favorite brand, biggest disappointment, and honorable mentions; all from my own stash.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Hey everyone! Just a quick little nail of the day post for you guys, today. When I originally ordered Rescue Beauty Lounge Starfish Patrick, I came across this post from Victoria (a.k.a. Manicurator), I fell instantly in love the Indie glitter brand "I Love Nail Polish." Needless to say, I promptly ordered a bottle of Up To Snow Good to go along with Starfish Patrick.

I decided to one up the copycat look & do a jelly sandwich, my first successful one at that. I started with a coat of SFP and applied a thin coat of UTSG. Next I added a coat of Gelous (which is awesome, btw), another thin coat of SFP, one more UTSG, mainly applying where there were bald spots, another coat of Gelous and two coats of Wicked Fast, allowing for dry time between each coat. Whew! This may be my fav mani to date. It is all around perfect.

Now this is just a little teaser and I plan on a full glorious write up of Up To Snow Good in a few days. I honestly couldn't wait to show you all the awesomeness of this glitter before I had proper time to sit down and review it. But here's a spoiler, it's pretty amazing!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Hello lacquered lovelies! I am steadily getting through all the polish I have stockpiled that needs swatching. Today, I have two more Layla Holos I ordered from Haute Look a few weeks ago.

Layla Holographic Effect - 02 Coral Glam

Coral Glam is a blush color linear holo. As much as I love the silver holo, I love this one so much more. It suits my skin tone much better, and I feel like it's a bit more chic. The holo is just as strong, as well. Since I have increased my holo stash and plan on continuing to do so, I invested in an Aqua base. Specifically, the Nfu Oh aqua base (review to come soon). It completely changes the way holos apply. This is 2 easy coats over the aqua base!

Layla Holographic Effect - 15 Misty Blush

Misty Blush is a maroon colored linear holo. I had such high hopes for this one. The color is so unique, but the holo is slightly less dramatic than the other two I have. Still pretty, just not as "WOW" as I had hoped. 2 coats over the Nfu Oh aqua base again.

The Layla holos are so great, but I have a feeling that the China Glaze holos are gonna blow them away. Sadly, they look to be the same color palette though. Can't wait to see!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic week. I am busy gearing up for New Year's and a road trip to El Paso a few days after that. I am trying to get posts scheduled for the days I will be gone, and I am swatching like mad. I did plan to wait to share this post, but it's just too good to pass up.

My wonderful Grandfather (who we are driving to see) gifted me a bit of cash for Christmas & I took the opportunity to purchase a few more Rescue Beauty Lounge polishes. The top of my list was another BIB4 beauty, Starfish Patrick. I have mentioned before that I am on a quest to find the perfect coral polish. I had to give this squishy jelly a try.

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Starfish Patrick

Starfish Patrick is a peachy coral jelly, perfect for spring/summer. It's bright and fresh, simple and clean. I really think that is the mastery of RBL, the color creation. I simply can't get over how unique each one is. Starfish Patrick is a true jelly, very sheer and a bit longer on dry time. I used 2 coats and had a slight VNL (visible nail line), definitely could have used a third coat, but I was impatient.

Although it hasn't satisfied my desire for a perfect coral, I still love the color. I will be wearing this a lot this summer, for sure.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Hey everyone! Happy day after Christmas! I had a nice quiet day, at home, with my husband & small person. Sometimes it's nice to have a relaxing holiday, rather than a crazy, loud one.

I have another Cult Nails polish, today. I really wanted to give the brand another shot, since I wasn't blown away from my first purchase, a few weeks ago. I chose an older color, since none of the newer shades really grabbed my attention.

Cult Nails - Let Me Fly

Let Me Fly is a dusty teal with a chunky pink, silver and blue shimmer. I love this color, it is a very pretty shade of teal, and the shimmer makes it a little more special. Even though I like it, I'm not blown away. I keep feeling a little let down. Formula was nice, still a little thin for my taste, but quite a bit more managealbe than Flushed. Dry time was a bit better too, average on all accounts.

I still can't say that I have been won over. As much as I hate to say it, I personally feel the brand has been hyped quite a bit. I doubt I will be making too many purchases in the future, especially since the polishes are getting a price increase from $10 to $12. While I understand the cost of running a business (I have my own that I run), I just can't see any reason to pay more for a polish that doesn't wow me in the first place.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Hi guys! Happy Christmas Eve (if you celebrate)!!!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday full of love & cookies! We are spending the day with my husband's family for dinner & gift exchanging. I decided to do another little holiday/winter inspired nail design for the festivities.

This pic on OPI's FB page really inspired me to do a little nail art. I really want to give it a try, especially since I am seriously considering doing the 31 day challenge sometime soon (eep!).

I used Zoya Ornate polishes for this mani, since it is a holiday look & Ornate is my fav holiday colletion this year! Ziv for the main color, Logan and Blaze for the holly leaves and berries. I used a small liner brush to creat the leaf shape & my dotting tools for the berries. I then, outlined and detailed the leaves with a black nail art pen and highlighted the berries with a white pen.

I am so proud of how it turned out! I really love it and can't wait to do some more stuff. Yay! ::happy dance::

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Hey everyone! Hope you all are having a great weekend! I am spending this Sunday baking cookies for Christmas. Once again, I only have one stamped mani, but it's a special one - Candy Canes!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White On over Takko Lacquer Va Va Voom

Stamp Plate: Bundle Monster BM207

I am trying to find a good white for stamping, this one is okay, but it didn't stamp as well as I wanted, & I tried to touch up some of the sheer patches. Anyway, I like the way it turned out, regardless. More stamping next week!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Hey guys & gals! I've got a few more polishes from the new Essence Color & Go polish line. I ran across a full stocked display, last week, at my grocery store that had some of the colors I wanted.

Essence Color & GO - Modern Romance

Modern Romance is a warm pink with a very hidden shimmer, so hidden it's not visible on the nail at all. I got this because it reminded me of Nars Trouville (a huge lemming of mine). Sadly, the formula was completely horrid & I am pretty sure, I won't be wearing it again. This is 4 thick goopy coats that refused to level and generally frustrated the hell out of me. Ugh.

Essence Color & GO - All That Glitters

All That Glitters is a bright lavender purple with pink and purple shimmer. I originally got this one for my small person, purple being her favorite color and all, but I ended up liking it myself. Formula was the exact opposite of Modern Romance. 2 coats, nice consistency, a tad streaky on the first, but the second coat smoothed everything out.

Essence Color & Go - Space Queen over All That Glitters

Space Queen is an iridescent glitter in a clear base. Every time I went to Ulta, I looked for this one & every time they were always out, but yay! I finally found it! Space Queen is a simple polish, but still pretty & great for adding a little sparkle. 1 coat, smooth application, no clumping or dragging with the glitter.

One thing that really bums me out, is there are so many colors in this line, & I have seen only 10-12. I wish Essence would bring their entire product range over to the States. I definitely think there is a market for it. The polishes, at least, are decent for a small price tag.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hey all you lovely lacquer heads! Today I have a very special post! I have been nominated by two wonderful bloggers for the Liebster Award.

If you are unfamiliar with the Liebster Award, it's a blog tag for new and/or small blogs to acknowledge the awesomeness contained with in (yes, awesomeness is a word, duh. ;p ) I was very fortunate to be nominated by Fitzy a.k.a. Lacquer Lad and Jessica from AnoNAILmous, two super sweet people & fellow Texans. Yay!The basic rules are, post 11 facts about yourself, answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you, write 11 new questions and nominate 11 new blogs for the award (& no tag-backs). So here goes nothing!11 Facts:- I am 32 (33 in July).- I have a daughter who is 4 and named after a famous Rasta musician.- I am vegetarian.- I changed my major 7 times in college, eventually choosing photography, but quit when everything went digital cause I love (& miss) the dark room.- I played the Alto Sax in high school for the marching band.- My favorite movie is a toss up between Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting and Donnie Darko.- My favorite author is Chuck Palahniuk & my favorite book by him is Invisible Monsters & my favorite line from the book is “The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open.”- I am a huge book nerd.- I have taught myself to knit and crochet. My other addiction is yarn. It's almost as bad as nail polish.- I used to listen to nothing but Punk & I was obsessed with Rancid and Bad Religion.- I hate shoes & prefer flip flops, even when it is cold outside.Jessica's 11 questions:1) What is your absolute
favorite and least favorite thing about blogging?favorite - getting to know some wonderful fellow addicts...errr..enthusiasts!least - editing swatch photos. super lame.2) What is your favorite
book?i can't possibly choose a fav book, but fav series is HP.3) Which
do you prefer stamping, freehand, or wraps?so far, stamping. i haven't done too much free hand & haven't tried wraps at all.4) What is your middle
name?Renee5) If you
could have any pet in the world what would be?a kitty. both the hubs & girlie are allergic & i love kitties. : (6) If you could be a part of any
movie what would it be? (i wanna answer this one Harry Potter or Pleasantville
prob the first)HP, LOTR, or Star Wars.7) If you could live anywhere,
where would it be (think not leaving family or friends behind)?Ireland8) What genre(s) of music do you
listen to?punk, grunge, or Glee9)
What is your favorite store to shop at?Target or Hobby Lobby10) Text or phone
call?depends. mostly text, but i hate typing out a long convo.11) Foil
Method, Glue Method or Yellow Stopper for glitter polish removal?glue! works like a charm!Fitzy's 11 questions:1. What is your favorite dessert or sweet foodchocolate or really really good cheesecake2. Cremes or jellies? Why?crelly! ha! you get the coverage of a cream, but still the squishy texture of a jelly.3. Shimmer or glitter? Why?shimmer, cause i'm a picky bitch over glitter.4. How do you organize your polish stash?right now, in a big ol' box. i need a helmer, or a melmer. which ever i get my paws on first.5. What are you doing for the holidays?family thing, & trail of lights6. What is a nail trend (crackle, matte, magnetic, glitter bomb, etc.) that you just can't stand, and why?crackle, magnetic, liquid sand, huge glitter, bar glitter, cause i'm a picky bitch ; )7. What is your favorite mythical creature?mermaid, fairy & unicorn! i may be a pre teen girl on the inside.8. How do you like your eggs?scrambled in a tortilla with pico & avocado. nom nom nom.9. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?dark, please.10. What is your favorite drugstore nail (or makeup) brand?essie11. What is the color of your soul?yellow (aw, i like this question!)My 11 questions:1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?2. What character from a book, movie, or graphic novel do you most identify with?3. If you could have every polish from one brand, what brand would you choose?4. Do you have any other collections besides nail polish?5. What is your favorite season?6. Can you speak more than one language? What are they?7. Homebody or Social Butterfly?8. Coffee or Tea?9. What was your favorite subject in school?10. Would you ever have stiletto nails?11. Your trapped on a desert island, what (one) book, movie, album, & nail polish would you want to have to keep you company?Young Wild & PolishedPinpoint PolishNicole Nearly NailedRia Loves PawlishNails and a WestieNails 4 DummiesBridge Nail ArtThe BlahgLuck Love Nails(ok so it's not exactly 11, but what ever. also, if those I nominated, have already been nominated, don't feel obligated to post again.) Thank you Jessica & Fitzy for nominating me! Big squishes!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Hello friends! Happy Sunday! I know I promised more stamp goodness for today's post, but I only managed one mani. Boo. I have been sick (strep & an ear infection, wtf?!?) & generally feeling like crap, as well as getting ready for the holidays and buying waaaaaayyyyy too much polish. I have had no time to play with my stamps, which kinda bums me out. Hopefully I will get more time soon.

Essie No Place Like Chrome over Julep Michelle

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM 211

Navy and silver is such an awesome color combo, and I wanted to use the chevron pattern in my set, buuuuut I am so not ready for straight patterns. It was a major fail. I also noticed that since I cut my nails (yes, I don't know why I did either -_-) that it is easier to get a clean stamp with no bald spots. So I guess shorties are better suited. Oh well. Until next week!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Hey everyone! Today I have the newest two colors from my fav indie brand, Takko Lacquer. These two colors have actually been out for about a month but they have sold out in minutes every time Sheryl restocks. I was lucky enough to grab them this last time and I completely understand why they sold out so quickly, they are gorgeous!

Takko Lacquer - We're All Mad Here

We're All Mad Here is a deep royal blue jelly with a bright orange shimmer and blue/green flakies. I DIE. This is, hands down, the BEST FRICKIN POLISH I have ever seen/worn/owned. Each and every time I am completely astounded at the awesome creations Sheryl comes up with, but this is pure genius. I tried soooooo hard to capture the beauty and complexity of WAMH, but damn, it's near impossible. Just trust me when I tell you, get it now. Formula was a dream, thick and smooth, just the way I like it. 2 coats, for perfect coverage (from a jelly! what!). It dries matte because of the pigments, so shiny top coat is a must. Ugh. Just look at that shimmer.

Takko Lacquer - Va Va Voom

Va Va Voom is a rich red metallic with a strong scattered holo, almost linear in some lighting. Sexy, sultry, definitely befitting the name. Let start off by saying, I do not like red polish. This one makes, number 5. If you count the blue polish, I have, it's closer to triple that number. There is something different about this shade of red. It's warm, and even shifting to an orangey red on occasion. I like it. A lot. This is also the strongest holo out of the entire Takko line. Formula was identical to the other holos, 2 coats, smooth and flowly, perfect consistency.

It's no secret I get all fan girl over Takko. But can you blame me? The only bad thing, is that more people are catching the Takko fever. Like I said, it took me about a month to get these two colors, they kept selling out that fast! But I couldn't be happier for Sheryl. She is the sweetest lady & I adore her to bits. All this love is totally deserved! XOXOXOXO!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Hey all! Yesterday I showed you the awesome goodies from my December Julep Maven BoHo Glam Box. Today, I have the only add on polish I picked, to share.

Julep - Julia

Julia is a sheer orchid purple loaded with gold, green, copper and pink flecks. Yay foils! I got this because the screen shot looked like a pretty shimmer, but I was pleasantly surprised that it is a foil! It is a really pretty combo, reminds me of Zoya Daul. I don't have it to compare, tho (I know, what's wrong with me?!?). Formula was really great, smooth, no drag. 2 coats, longer dry time. Not as bad as the Julep creams.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Good afternoon all! Today I have the Julep December Maven box. I'm a little late on posting this, sorry! For the holidays, Julep put together boxes full of glittery polishes for the mavens. I stuck with my BoHo Glam box picks, because I want to see if I really fit that style choice (or vice versa).

Jordan is a full coverage gunmetal multi sized glitter bomb. I was really surprised by this one. Full glitters are hit or miss with me, and darker ones are usually a miss, but I kinda dig this one. Despite it being packed with glitter, I had no application issues, it didn't get clumpy or anything. I do want to layer it next time, tho. I did 2 coats and got pretty good coverage, but I still think it would look bes with some undies. Dry time was good, especailly for Julep.

Julep - Petra

Petra is a cranberry crelly with a chunky silver shimmer. I am almost positive it's a dupe for Zoya Blaze minus the holo glass flecks. I will be posting a comparisson in a few days. Even tho it's a dupe, I like it. Perfect holiday color. 2 coats for full coverage, and dry time was a little longer, but not as long as the creams I got last month.

DIY Ring with Jordan

Along with the box, there was a fun littl DIY polish ring. I was so excited to play with it, that I didn't take pics before I put it together. Womp, Womp. But basically, it was a glass cabochon that you put polish on the bottom and put it in the ring base when it dries. I used Jordan, because I thought it would be super sparkley as a ring. I loved the way it came out & have worn it since. I think I need matching earrings now!

Overall, I am really pleased with this month's box, especially the ring addition! How fun!

If you are interested in signing up for your own Maven box, click here. Don't forget to use the code "PENNY" to get your first box for one cent.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Happy Sunday! I, sadly, only have two stamped manicures to show today. I actually did two more, this week, but totally flaked & forgot to take pictures! >_< Bad nail blogger! Anyway, the two I have are really nice! I have gotten loads better & I think I have figured out the problems I was having. That is the biggest hurdle of stamping, I think. Trying to figure out what works best for you and your nails.

The first one is my favorite. I love how the two colors go so well together! I know I will be using that combo again. And I am really pleased how well it turned out, too! It was the first one that I managed to cover my whole nail with out any bald spots. I also need to find a good black to stamp with. The last one would have turned out so much better if I had a better color. Oh well, learning experience right?

Friday, December 7, 2012

Hello everyone, hope you are all having a great day! I have the wonderful A England to share on the blog. A England is an independent brand from England created by the incredibly talented Adina & inspired by the rich history of the nation. I have been dying to try out A England polishes for quite a while now (I blame Kimber of Kimber's Lacquer Korner and all her gorgeous swatches) and finally broke down when Adina re-released Holy Grail.

A England - Holy Grail (revamped)

The new Holy Grail is an amazing antique gold foil. There is no picture out there that can do this polish justice. I have seen some stunning swatches, but the real thing is breathtaking. It is a cool toned gold with olive green undertones, and flecks of green and copper mixed through out. A England polishes are known for they're outstanding formulas & this did not disappoint! Perfection with every stroke. The only thing I have to compare is the Rescue Beauty formula, very similar in quality. 2 coats for full coverage, average dry time for a foil, which is on the longer side. I have quite a few gold foils & I think this one may be my favorite.

A England - Dragon

Dragon is a deep sage green with a subtle linear holo effect. Before I saw the new Holy Grail, this and Order of the Blue Garter were at the top of my A England wish list. I love how Dragon is so unique. a good green polish is hard to come by, but a dark green holo is even harder. Sadly, I think this one brings out the yellow tones in my skin. But that's not gonna stop me from wearing it! Formula was identical to Holy Grail, except I only needed one coat with Dragon & it dried lightning quick.

Natural Daylight

I am dying over these two, and will definitely be back for more. I think I just need to sell my soul to pay for polish!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Hey everyone! Today I have my very first polish from Cult Nails, an independent brand from Florida with a "cult" following.

I've been curious about this brand for a while, but nothing ever really grabbed my attention, until the newest collection, "Behind Closed Doors," came out a couple of weeks ago. Out of all the colors, Flushed really stood out, and I got it as soon as I could.

Cult Nails - Flushed

Flushed is a blue/purple or "blurple" cream/jelly hybrid with a subtle coppery pink shimmer. I love these types of polishes. The color and the glowy shimmer are just gorgeous together. Application was a bit tricky. I have read rave reviews on how awesome Cult Nails formula is, and was a bit disappointed. For me, the formula was too thin and runny. I don't mind a thin polish at all, but when it floods my cuticles and side walls, I tend to get a little irritated. The Cult Nails website describes Flushed as a "buildable sheer" and I agree. It was very sheer on the first coat, and I need 3 overall to get full coverage. Dry time was on the longer side as well. I managed to nick 2 nails a good 5 minutes after applying my quick dry top coat (butter London PD Quick). Letting the polish completely dry between coats will probably solve the problem, tho. While the color is very very pretty, I kinda feel like the formula has been hyped a bit. Or maybe this color is different from the rest. Reguardless, the ir is simply beautiful, and I have a tendancy to overlook problematic formulas if the polish looks like this!

One thing I noticed, when I got the bottle, was that it was almost identical to my beloved Takko Lacquer Kiss the Sky. The swatches on line look similar but show a more pink toned shimmer. I decided to do a little comparison.

Bottle Shot

Left to Right: Takko Lacquer, Cult Nails, Takko Lacquer, Cult Nails

Side by side, they are nearly identical. Kiss the Sky has a bit more noticeable shimmer, and the base color is more saturated (it also requires fewer coats).﻿ When you tilt your nails at a different angle, that's when the biggest difference appears, and what makes Kiss the Sky so special.

See that amazing green color shift? Flushed doesn't have it, sadly, otherwise it's a pretty good copy, based on color. Formula, not so much. Takko Lacquer beats out Cult Nails for sure.

So, I'm not entirely convinced of Cult Nails yet. But I am willing to give the brand another try, because you can't judge a book by it's cover, and you can't judge a nail polish company based on one polish. I'd love to hear some suggestions on other colors to try!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Christmas without snow? What a preposterous notion! For the rest of the world, maybe. But down here in Australia, we love to crack out the beer and boardshorts and soak up the sun at this very special time of year. We wanted to capture the spirit of an Aussie Christmas with our very first seasonal collection consisting of six amazing new nail shades to help you celebrate Christmas the Aussie way!

BLUE GUMS ON BOXING DAY - This rich green shines with a mesmerizing blue shimmer! Perfect for those post Christmas celebrations!

PARTY BY THE POOL - Splash about in this gorgeous peacock jelly, swimming with flecks of green and blue!

SANTA'S SUNBURN - It seems that Santa's Sunburn is the best type of sunburn! This jolly red foil sparkles with tiny flecks of silver.

SEASONAL SUNSET - Seasonal Sunset's rusty jelly base is packed to bursting with bright golden and copper microglitter particles and the result is simply breathtaking. It's a Christmas sunset on your nails!

TWINKLING LIGHTS - Like stars that sparkle in the sky, or Christmas lights twinkling in the night, Twinkling Lights will add something special to every manicure!

And to make things even cooler, our Christmas polishes will come in cute Christmas themed red holographic boxes with new artwork by our one and only Leigh Young! The perfect stocking stuffer! You won't even need to wrap them!

The CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SNOW collection is available for preorder NOW, with orders starting to ship this week! We are also running our amazing Golden Ticket promotion where ten lucky Christmas orders will receive our super secret limited edition GOLDEN TICKET polish! Only ten made and these will NEVER be sold on our site! Competition details can be found on here.

RRP is $9.95, with a 10% discount for buying all six shades! Pretty Serious Cosmetics also ships worldwide. Check out our site for more details.